Portable monitoring devices and methods of operating the same

ABSTRACT

In one aspect of the disclosed implementations, a device includes one or more motion sensors for sensing motion of the device and providing activity data indicative of the sensed motion. The device also includes one or more processors for monitoring the activity data, and receiving or generating annotation data for annotating the activity data with one or more markers or indicators to define one or more characteristics of an activity session. The device also includes one or more feedback devices for providing feedback, a notice, or an indication to a user based on the monitoring. The device further includes a portable housing that encloses at least portions of the motion sensors, the processors and the feedback devices.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of commonly assigned U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/427,638 filed 8 Feb. 2017 and titled PORTABLEMONITORING DEVICES AND METHODS OF OPERATING THE SAME,” which is aContinuation of commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/017,356 filed 5 Feb. 2016 and titled “PORTABLE MONITORING DEVICES ANDMETHODS OF OPERATING THE SAME,” which is a Continuation of commonlyassigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/524,909 filed 27 Oct. 2014and titled “PORTABLE MONITORING DEVICES AND METHODS OF OPERATING THESAME,” which is a Continuation of commonly assigned U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/062,717 filed 24 Oct. 2013 and titled “PORTABLEMONITORING DEVICES AND METHODS OF OPERATING THE SAME,” which is aContinuation of commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/029,759 filed 17 Sep. 2013 and titled “PORTABLE MONITORING DEVICESAND METHODS OF OPERATING THE SAME,” which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/830,600 filed 3 Jun. 2013 andtitled “PORTABLE MONITORING DEVICES AND METHODS OF OPERATING SAME,” andwhich claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/752,826filed 15 Jan. 2013 and titled “PORTABLE MONITORING DEVICES AND METHODSOF OPERATING SAME,” all of which applications are hereby incorporated byreference herein in their entireties and for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

Increasing consumer interest in personal health has resulted in thedevelopment of a variety of personal health monitoring devices. Suchdevices have tended to be complicated to use or typically designed foruse with only one activity: for example, running or bicycling, but notboth. Relatively recent advances in the miniaturization of sensors,power sources, and other electronics or components have enabled personalhealth monitoring devices to be offered in smaller sizes, form factors,or shapes than were previously feasible or industrially practical. Forexample, the Fitbit Ultra (manufactured by Fitbit Inc. headquartered inSan Francisco, Calif.) is a biometric monitoring device that isapproximately 2″ long, 0.75″ wide, and 0.5″ deep. The Fitbit Ultra has apixelated display, battery, sensors, wireless communications capability,power source, and interface button, as well as an integrated clip forattaching the device to a pocket or other portion of clothing, allpackaged within this small volume.

SUMMARY

Details of one or more implementations of the subject matter describedin this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and thedescription below. Other features, aspects, and advantages will becomeapparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. Note thatthe relative dimensions of the following figures may not be drawn toscale unless specifically indicated as being scaled drawings.

In one aspect of the disclosed implementations, a device includes one ormore motion sensors for sensing motion of the device and providingactivity data indicative of the sensed motion. The device also includesone or more processors for monitoring the activity data, and receivingor generating annotation data for annotating the activity data with oneor more markers or indicators to define one or more characteristics ofan activity session. The device also includes one or more feedbackdevices for providing feedback, a notice, or an indication to a userbased on the monitoring. The device further includes a portable housingthat encloses at least portions of the motion sensors, the processorsand the feedback devices.

In some implementations, the device further includes a memory and theprocessors are further configured to store the activity data or dataderived from the activity data in the memory. In some suchimplementations, the processors are further configured to store theannotation data in the memory. In some implementations, the processorsare further configured to determine one or more activity metrics basedon the activity data. In some such implementations, the processors arefurther configured to determine one or more activity metrics based onthe annotation data.

In some implementations, the device further includes one or more userinput devices included in or on the housing for receiving or sensinguser input, and the processors are further configured to receive andinterpret the user input received or sensed via the user input devices.In some such implementations, the motion sensors themselves also canfunction as user input devices by sensing a user's touch, tapping, orother physical gesture made on or with the device. In someimplementations, the device further includes transmitting and receivingcircuitry. In some such implementations, the user input is input by theuser via an external or remote device and then communicated to thereceiving circuitry. In some such implementations, the processors arefurther configured to receive and interpret the user input received fromthe receiving circuitry. In some such implementations, the transmittingand receiving circuitry is configured for wireless communication over acomputer network, and the user input is input via a web or mobileapplication.

In some implementations, the device is configured to enable a user toinput the annotation data via user input. In some such implementations,the user input is input based on a physical interaction with the devicethat is then interpreted by the processors. In some otherimplementations, the user input is input to an external device that iscommunicatively-coupled with the device via one or more wired orwireless connections or networks. In some implementations, the device isconfigured to enable a user to initiate, indicate, or mark a start timeor an end time of a user-defined activity session in response to userinput received via one the one or more user interface devices. In someimplementations, the device is configured to enable a user to indicate aparticular user activity performed during a user-defined activitysession in response to user input received via one the one or more userinterface devices.

In some implementations, the device is configured to automaticallyannotate the activity data or to generate the annotation data. In somesuch implementations, the device is configured to automatically annotatethe activity data or to generate the annotation data based on a devicestate. In some implementations, the device is configured toautomatically annotate the activity data or to generate the annotationdata based on an analysis of the activity data. In some implementations,the processors are configured to automatically determine the activitydata to track or the activity metrics to calculate based on theannotation data.

In some implementations, the housing includes a wrist- or arm-band, isconfigured for physical attachment to or coupling with a wrist- orarm-band, or is configured to be inserted into a wrist- or arm-band. Insome implementations, the device further includes one or more of: one ormore gyroscopes, one or more physiological sensors, one or morebiometric sensors, one or more altitude sensors, one or more temperaturesensors, and one or more heart-rate sensors.

In another aspect of the disclosed implementations, a method ofmonitoring one or more activity metrics using a portable monitoringdevice is described. In some implementations, the method includessensing, by one or more motion sensors within the device, motion of thedevice. The method also includes outputting, by the one or more motionsensors, activity data indicative of the sensed movement. The methodalso includes receiving, by one or more processors within the device,the activity data. The method additionally includes receiving orgenerating, by the one or more processors, annotation data. The methodfurther includes annotating the activity data based on the annotationdata.

In some implementations, the method further includes receiving theannotation data from a user. In some other implementations, the methodincludes generating the annotation data based on the activity data. Insome implementations, the processors are further configured to determineor calculate one or more activity metrics based on the activity data andthe annotation data.

In still another aspect of the disclosed implementations, a deviceincludes one or more motion sensors for sensing motion of the device andproviding activity data indicative of the sensed motion. The device alsoincludes one or more processors for monitoring the activity data, andfor switching among a plurality of activity-tracking modes. The devicealso includes one or more feedback devices for providing feedback, anotice, or an indication to a user based on the monitoring. The devicefurther includes a portable housing that encloses at least portions ofthe motion sensors, the processors and the feedback devices.

In some implementations, the processors are further configured todetermine one or more activity metrics based on the activity data. Insome implementations, the processors are further configured to determinethe one or more activity metrics based on which of the activity-trackingmodes is currently active. In some implementations, the device isconfigured to enable a user to set or select a particularactivity-tracking mode to switch into based on user input. In someimplementations, the device is configured to automatically determine orselect a particular activity-tracking mode to switch into in response tothe activity data. In some implementations, the plurality ofactivity-tracking modes include one or more activity-specificactivity-tracking modes and a sleep-tracking mode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various implementations disclosed herein are illustrated by way ofexample, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals may refer tosimilar elements.

FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of an example portable monitoring device.

FIG. 2 depicts a portable monitoring device that may be inserted into aholder with a belt clip or into a pocket on a wristband.

FIG. 3 depicts a portable monitoring device that may be worn on aperson's forearm like a wristwatch.

FIG. 4 depicts another example of a portable monitoring device that maybe worn on a person's forearm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates generally to portable monitoring devices(also referred to herein as “portable tracking devices” or simply as“devices”), and more particularly, to wearable monitoring devicesincluding wearable biometric monitoring devices. Various implementationsrelate to a portable monitoring device capable of monitoring andtracking movements or activities and related data. For example, theportable monitoring device can include one or more motion sensors fordetecting movement data or various other biometric, physiological, orenvironmental sensors for detecting biometric data, physiological data,environmental data, or related data (hereinafter also collectivelyreferred to as “activity data”). In some example implementations, theportable monitoring device includes a general or defaultactivity-tracking mode. In some such implementations, the defaultactivity-tracking mode is an “annotation mode.” In some suchimplementations, the activity data monitored or tracked (hereinafter“monitored” and “tracked” may be used interchangeably) while in theannotation mode can be annotated or otherwise marked to indicate,specify, or delineate the starting and ending time points, a duration,or other time points of or within an activity session.

For purposes of this disclosure, an “activity session” may generallyrefer to a user-defined duration of time, or a duration of timeassociated with a particular activity or time of day, in which thedevice is monitoring activity data. In some implementations, theactivity data monitored while in the default annotation mode also can beannotated or otherwise marked to indicate, specify, or define a specificactivity that is being performed by the user during the activity sessionsuch as, for example, walking, running, stair climbing, bicycling,swimming, or even sleeping. In various implementations, the user canannotate the activity data prior to, during, or after completion of anassociated activity. In various implementations, one or more activitymetrics can be determined, calculated, or analyzed based on the activitydata. In some such implementations, the activity metrics arecommunicated to the user via a display, lighting, noise, or viavibrational or haptic feedback. In some implementations, one or moreachieved goals, progress indicators, alerts, or other activity-basednotifications may be communicated to the user based on one or more ofthe activity metrics. Additionally or alternatively, in someimplementations, one or more alarms, reminders, or other time-,physiologically-, biometrically-, state-, condition-, orenvironment-based notifications also can be communicated to the user.Such achieved goals, progress indicators, alerts, or other notificationscan be communicated to the user via a display, lighting, noise, or viavibrational or haptic feedback.

In some other implementations, the portable monitoring device is capableof switching among two or more modes such as two or moreactivity-tracking modes. In some such implementations, the two or moreactivity-tracking modes include one or more activity-specificactivity-tracking modes including, for example, a walking mode, arunning mode, a stair-climbing mode, a bicycling mode, a swimming mode,a climbing mode, and a golfing mode, among other exampleactivity-tracking modes configured for other corresponding activities.In some implementations, the two or more activity-tracking modes alsocan include a sleep-tracking mode. In some implementations, the portablemonitoring device itself can determine which activity data to monitor orwhich activity (or sleep) metrics (hereinafter “sleep metrics” also maygenerally be referred to as “activity metrics”) to determine, compute,calculate, track or analyze (hereinafter used interchangeably) based onwhich of the activity-tracking modes is currently active or initiated.Additionally or alternatively, in some implementations, one or both ofan external computing device or a back-end server can request certainactivity data from the portable monitoring device based on which of theactivity-tracking modes is currently active or initiated. Additionallyor alternatively, in some implementations, one or both of an externalcomputing device or a back-end server can receive all activity datamonitored by the portable monitoring device and subsequently filter orotherwise selectively process certain activity data to determine certainactivity (or sleep) metrics based on which of the activity-trackingmodes is currently active or initiated.

FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of an example portable monitoring device100. The portable monitoring device 100 includes one or more sensors102. The portable monitoring device 100 also includes a processing unit104, a memory 106, a user interface 108, and input/output (I/O)interface 110. The one or more sensors 102, the processing unit 104, thememory 106, the user interface 108, and the I/O interface 110 arecommunicatively connected with one or more of one another via one ormore communication paths collectively referred to as communication bus112. The portable monitoring device 100 further includes a power source114, such as, for example, one or more rechargeable or a removablebatteries.

The sensors 102 include one or more motion sensors configured forsensing and outputting movement data indicative of the motion of theportable monitoring device 100. For example, the motion sensors caninclude one or more accelerometers for sensing movement data. In someimplementations, the portable monitoring device 100 includes one or moreaccelerometers for sensing acceleration or other movement data in eachof, for example, three directions, which may be orthogonal. The sensors102 additionally can include one or more gyroscopes for sensing rotationdata. In some implementations, the portable monitoring device 100includes one or more gyroscopes for sensing rotation about each of, forexample, three axes, which may be orthogonal. As will be describedlater, movement data and rotation data also can be used to capture userinput. The sensors 102 additionally can include one or more altimeters(hereinafter also referred to as “altitude sensors.” For example, theportable monitoring device 100 can include a pressure or barometricaltimeter. The sensors 102 additionally can include one or moretemperature sensors for sensing one or both of a temperature of theenvironment outside of the user's body or an internal temperature of theuser's body. The sensors 102 additionally can include one or more lightsensors (for example, photodetectors). For example, the light sensorscan be used to detect an ambient light level of the environment for usein, for example, determining a suitable or optimal intensity of adisplay of the portable monitoring device 100. Other light sensors canbe used to gather other biometric data such as an oxygen level of theuser's blood. The sensors 102 also can include one or more pressure orproximity sensors for receiving user input. Such pressure or proximitysensors can be based on mechanical designs or on, for example,capacitive, resistive, or other electrical or optical designs. Theportable monitoring device 100 also can be coupled with external sensingdevices such as an external heart rate monitor (for example, achest-strap heart rate monitor) for sensing a user's hear rate. Theportable monitoring device 100 also can include or be coupled with otherphysiological or biometric sensors. In some implementations, theportable monitoring device 100 additionally is configured to sense ormonitor one or more other types of biometric data or to measure,calculate, or determine biometric data based on the movement, rotation,or other data described above. Biometric data, as used herein, may referto virtually any data pertaining to the physical characteristics of thehuman body, and as described above, activity data may also refer to suchbiometric data.

The processing unit 104 can include one or more processors, processingcircuits, computing units, computing circuits, controllers, ormicrocontrollers (hereinafter used interchangeably). Each of theprocessors can be implemented by a general- or special-purpose processor(or set of processing cores) and can execute sequences of programmedinstructions (“code”) to perform tasks and effectuate variousoperations. Additionally or alternatively, the processing unit 104 caninclude a custom-built hardware ASIC (application-specific integratedcircuit), or can be programmed into a programmable logic device such asan FPGA (field-programmable gate array). In some implementations, thememory 106 stores executable instructions that, when executed by theprocessing unit 104, cause the processing unit 104 to control one ormore of the sensors 102, to sample or extract data received from thesensors 102, to store the received data in the memory 106, and toretrieve or load data previously stored in the memory 106. The activitydata received from the sensors 102 may be stored in raw format in thememory 106 by the processing unit 104, or may be pre-processed prior tostorage in the memory 106. For example, the processing unit 104 maystore or buffer the most recent 10 minutes of activity data in raw form,but may then store data from prior to the ten-minute window as filtereddata, for example, with a lower sampling rate or with some form ofnumerical analysis, such as a moving average, performed, or as converteddata: for example, acceleration data may be converted to activitymetrics such as “steps taken,” “stairs climbed,” or “distance traveled.”

Activity data from the sensors 102, including raw data or post-processeddata, may be further analyzed to determine if the activity data isindicative of a pre-defined biometric state or condition that isassociated with a user input. If such analysis indicates that such datahas been collected, the processing unit 104 may then treat such an eventas equivalent to a user input. In some implementations, the processingunit 104 also may derive secondary data based on the raw activity data.In some implementations, the processing unit 104 also performs ananalysis on the raw activity data received from the sensors 102 or onraw or previously-processed (“post-processed”) activity data retrievedfrom the memory 106 and initiates various actions based on the analysis.For example, the processing unit 104 may track, determine, compute,calculate or analyze one or more physiological, biometric, activity orsleep metrics (hereinafter collectively referred to as “activitymetrics”) based on the raw, pre-processed or secondary activity data(also collectively referred to herein generally as “activity data”).

The memory 106 can include any suitable memory architecture. In someimplementations, the memory 106 includes different classes of storagedevices or units to store different classes of data. In someimplementations, the memory 106 includes non-volatile storage media,such as fixed or removable semiconductor-, optical-, or magnetic-basedmedia, for storing executable code (also referred to as “executableinstructions”) and related data for enabling the implementations andcarrying out the processes described herein. In some implementations,the memory 106 also is configured for storing configuration data orother information for implementing various default or user-definedsettings, or for implementing the default or activity-specificactivity-tracking modes described herein. The memory 106 also can beconfigured for storing other configuration data used during theexecution of various programs or instruction sets or otherwise used toconfigure the portable monitoring device 100. Additionally, any of theafore-described raw activity data generated by the sensors 102, as wellas pre-processed or derived data, can be stored in the non-volatilestorage media within the memory 106 for later analysis or other use.Additionally, in some implementations, the activity metrics calculatedby the processing unit 104 or received from an external computing deviceor server also can be stored in the non-volatile storage media withinthe memory 106 for later analysis, viewing or other use. In someimplementations, the memory 106 also includes volatile storage media,such as static or dynamic random-access memory (RAM), for temporarily ornon-permanently storing more transient information and other variabledata as well as, in some implementations, executable code retrieved fromthe non-volatile storage media. The volatile storage media may alsostore any of the afore-described data generated by sensors 102 or dataderived from sensed data (for example, including activity- or sleeptracking metrics) for later analysis, later storage in non-volatilemedia within memory 106, or for subsequent communication over a wired orwireless connection via I/O interface 110. The processing unit 104 canadditionally or alternatively include its own volatile memory, such asRAM, for loading executable code from non-volatile memory for executionby the processing unit 104, or for tracking, analyzing, or otherwiseprocessing any of the afore-described data generated by sensors 102 ordata derived from sensed data (for example, including activity- or sleeptracking metrics) for later analysis, later storage in non-volatilemedia within memory 106, or for subsequent communication over a wired orwireless connection via I/O interface 110.

As will be described in more detail below, the processing unit 104 alsocan be configured to track and determine when the activity data receivedfrom the sensors 102 or retrieved from the memory 106, or the activitymetrics generated from such activity data, indicate that a goal has beenachieved or a progress point has been reached. For example, such a goalcan be a specific activity metrics such as a distance, a number ofsteps, an elevation change, or number of calories burned, among othergoals as described in more detail below. The processing unit 104 maythen notify the user of the achievement of the goal or progressindicator via the user interface 108. For example, the processing unit104 may cause a display to show content on the display marking orcelebrating the achievement of the goal. Additionally or alternatively,the processing unit 104 may cause one or more lights (for example, LEDs)to light up, flash, change intensity, or otherwise reflect a visualpattern or display that notifies the user of the achievement of thegoal. Additionally or alternatively, the processing unit 104 may causeone or more sound-producing devices to alert, beep or otherwise makenoise that notifies the user of the achievement of the goal.Additionally or alternatively, the processing unit 104 may cause one ormore vibrating devices to vibrate or otherwise provide haptic feedbackin the form of one or more vibration patterns and, in someimplementations, with differing or varying vibrational characteristicsto notify the user of the achievement of particular goals.

In some implementations, user interface 108 collectively refers to andincludes one or more user input devices and one or more output devices.The memory 106 also can store executable instructions that, whenexecuted by the processing unit 104, cause the processing unit 104 toreceive and interpret user input received via the user interface 108, orto output or communicate information to a user via the user interface108. In various implementations, the user interface 108 can incorporateone or more types of user interfaces including, for example, visual,auditory, touch, vibration, or combinations thereof. For example, userinterface 108 can include one or more buttons in or on a device housingthat encloses the processing unit 104, the memory 106 and otherelectrical or mechanical components of the portable monitoring device100. The buttons can be based on mechanical designs and electricaldesigns, and may incorporate, for example, one or more pressure sensors,proximity sensors, resistive sensors, capacitive sensors, or opticalsensors. The user interface 108 also can include a touchpad or atouchscreen interface, which may be disposed over or integrated with adisplay, and which can incorporate these or other types of sensors.

In some implementations, the afore-described motion sensors, gyroscopes,or other sensors also can be used to detect a physical gesturecorresponding to a user input. This allows a user to interact with thedevice using physical gestures. For example, accelerometers andgyroscopes can be used to detect when a user “taps,” shakes, rotates,flips or makes other “gestures” with the portable monitoring device. Asanother example, the portable monitoring device 100 can include amagnetometer, which may be used to detect the device's orientation withrespect to the Earth's magnetic field. Other gestures that may be usedto cause the portable monitoring device 100 to perform some actioninclude, but are not limited to, multiple taps, or a specific pattern oftaps. For example, a user may tap anywhere on the exterior (for example,the housing) of the portable monitoring device two times within aspecific time period to cause the display to show particular content, toannotate activity data, or to change device modes.

As just described, the user interface 108 also can include a display canbe included on or in the housing that encloses the processing unit 104and the memory 106. In various implementations, the display can beconfigured as an alphanumeric display, transiently-visible display, ordead-front display. The display also can include or be based on anysuitable display technology including liquid crystal display (LCD)technology or light-emitting diode (LED) technology among other suitabledisplay technologies. The display can be configured to display variousinformation to a user. In some implementations, a user can input aselection, navigate through a menu, or input other information via abutton, a pressure sensor, a proximity sensor, a resistive sensor, acapacitive sensor, an optical sensor, or a touchscreen incorporatingthese or other types of sensors.

In various implementations, the display can show activity data,biometric data, contextual data, environmental data, system or intrinsiccondition data, or data derived from activity or other sensed data, oneor more activity metrics, one or more sleep metrics, a currently-activeactivity-tracking mode, one or more menus, one or more settings, one ormore alarms or other indicators, a clock, a timer, a “stopwatch,” amongother suitable information. In some implementations, the informationthat is displayed is customizable by the user or, additionally oralternatively, dependent on a current device state or mode of theportable monitoring device 100. For example, as a consequence of limiteddisplay space (to keep the portable monitoring device as small, portableor wearable as possible without sacrificing functionality or ease ofuse), the data displayed in association with each device state or modemay be partitioned into a plurality of different data display pages, anda user may “advance” through the data display pages associated with agiven device state or mode by providing input to the biometricmonitoring device.

The term “data display page” as used herein may refer to a visualdisplay including text, graphics, and/or indicators, e.g., LEDs or otherlights such as are used on the Fitbit Flex, that are arranged tocommunicate data measured, produced, or received by a portablemonitoring device 100 to a user viewing a display of the portablemonitoring device. In order to more dynamically change the display orthe notifications provided to a user, the portable monitoring device 100may track its device state through a variety of mechanisms andtransition through different device states as contextual states,environmental states, or modes change. In some implementations, thedevice may include and be capable of operating in multiple active modes,multiple active environmental states, multiple active contextual states,or combinations of these, simultaneously. In such a case, the devicestate may be different for each different combination of environmentalstates, contextual states, or modes.

In implementations that include an annotation mode, an annotation datadisplay page may indicate that the portable monitoring device 100 is inannotation mode. When the portable monitoring device 100 is in theannotation mode (or said differently, when the annotation mode is activeor initiated), information related to the activity being annotated maybe displayed. For example, data display pages for various types ofactivity data or activity metrics may show quantities measured while theportable monitoring device 100 is in the annotation mode. For example,while operating in the annotation mode, a data display page for “stepstaken” may only display a quantity of steps that have been taken whilethe portable monitoring device 100 is in the annotation mode or in anactivity session defined using annotation data (rather than, forexample, the quantity of steps taken throughout the entire day, week,month, year or during the lifetime of the device).

In an example implementation, if the portable monitoring device 100 isin a device state associated with the wearer being asleep (for example,an annotated sleep-tracking state or a sleep-tracking mode), it may beless likely for the wearer to input information into or otherwiseinteract with the portable monitoring device. Thus, in someimplementations, the processing unit 104 may decrease the sensitivitiesof various user input detection mechanisms, especially a touchscreen,(or turn the display or the entire device completely off) to reduce therisk of accidental inputs or to save power. In other device states, itmay be desirable to change the user input method based on thelimitations of various input mechanisms in various environments. Forexample, if the portable monitoring device 100 determines that it is ina device state associated with swimming (for example, the portablemonitoring device 100 can be configured to independently determinethrough moisture sensors or pressure sensor data that it is in water),or if the portable monitoring device is actively placed into a swimmingmode by the user via the user interface 108, then, in someimplementations, a touchscreen interface or other user interface of theportable monitoring device 100 may be deactivated since it may notfunction well in water. The wearer may instead interact with theportable monitoring device 100 using physical buttons or otherappropriate or suitable input mechanisms, including physical gesturessensed by the device.

In additional to a display, the portable monitoring device 100, andparticularly the user interface 108, also can include other mechanismsto provide feedback or other information to a user. For example, theuser interface 108 can include one or more lights, such as one or moreLEDs, in addition to the display for communicating information, such asthe achievement of a goal, an alarm, an alert, indicator or othernotification, a current state, a current mode, or a power level, to theuser. For example, the processing unit 104 can control the intensities,colors, or patterns of flashing of one or more of the LEDs of the userinterface 108 based on what information is being communicated. In someimplementations, the user interface 108 additionally or alternativelyincludes one or more speakers or sound-producing devices. The userinterface 108 also can include one or more microphones or other audiodevices.

In some implementations, the user interface 108 includes one or morevibramotors (also referred to herein as “vibrators” or simply as“vibrating devices”) for communicating information with or to the user.For example, the processing unit 104 can utilize the vibramotors tocommunicate one or more alarms, achieved goals, progress indicators,inactivity indicators, reminders, indications that a timer has expired,or other indicators, feedback or notifications to a user wearing orholding the portable monitoring device 100. In some suchimplementations, the portable monitoring device 100 can utilize thevibramotors to communicate such information to the user in addition tocommunicating the same or similar information via the display, thelights, or the sound-producing devices. In some other suchimplementations, the portable monitoring device 100 can utilize thevibramotors to communicate such information to the user instead of or inlieu of communicating the same or similar information via the display,the lights, or the sound-producing devices. For example, in the case ofan alarm, the vibramotors can cause the portable monitoring device 100to vibrate to wake the user from sleep while not making noise so as tonot wake the user's partner. As another example, in the case of agoal-achievement or progress indicator, the vibramotors can cause theportable monitoring device 100 to vibrate to alert the user that theuser's goal has been achieved or that a milestone or other progresspoint en route to the goal has been reached without requiring the userto look at a display or hear an indication output from a speaker. Insome implementations, a user can define one or more custom vibrationpatterns or other vibrational characteristics and assign such differingvibration patterns or other vibrational characteristics to differentalarms, goals, or other vibrating indicators so that the user candistinguish among the vibrating indicators to determine what informationis being communicated by the portable monitoring device 100.Additionally or alternatively, in some implementations, a user canselect one or more default vibration patterns or other vibrationalcharacteristics stored in the memory 106 and assign such differingvibration patterns or other vibrational characteristics to variousvibrating indicators. In various implementations, the user can customizesuch patterns, characteristics, or settings or make such selections viathe user interface 108, or via an application or program (including aweb application, mobile application, or client-side software program)executing on an external computing device (for example, a personalcomputer, smartphone or multimedia device) communicatively coupled withthe portable monitoring device 100 via the I/O interface 110 and one ormore wired or wireless connections or networks.

In some implementations, as described above, one or more of the sensors102 themselves also can be used to implement at least a portion of theuser interface 108. For example, one or more accelerometers or othermotion sensors 102 can be used to detect when a person taps the housingof the portable monitoring device 100 with a finger or other object, andthen interpret such data as a user input for the purposes of controllingthe portable monitoring device 100. For example, double-tapping thehousing of the portable monitoring device 100 may be recognized by theprocessing unit 104 as a user input that will cause a display of theportable monitoring device to turn on from an off state or that willcause the portable monitoring device to transition between differentmonitoring states, sessions, or modes. For example, in an implementationin which the portable monitoring device includes a single annotation orother general activity-tracking mode, the tapping may cause theprocessing unit 104 to switch from a state where the portable monitoringdevice 100 collects and interprets activity data according to rulesestablished for an “active” person to a state where the portablemonitoring device collects and interprets activity data according torules established for a “sleeping” or “resting” person. As anotherexample, tapping the housing of the portable monitoring device 100 maybe recognized by the processing unit 104 as a user input that willannotate monitored activity data, such as by, for example, indicating astarting or ending time of an activity session of user-defined duration.In some other implementations, such as in implementations in which theportable monitoring device 100 includes two or more activity-specificactivity-tracking modes, the tapping may cause the processing unit 104to switch from one activity-specific activity-tracking mode to another.For example, tapping may cause the processing unit 104 to switch from awalking mode where the portable monitoring device 100 collects andinterprets activity data according to rules established for a “walking”person to a bicycling mode where the portable monitoring deviceinterprets data according to rules established for a bicycle rider.

In some implementations, the processing unit 104 may communicateactivity data received from the sensors 102 or retrieved from the memory106 via the I/O interface 110 to an external or remote computing device(for example, a personal computer, smartphone or multimedia device) orto a back-end server over one or more computer networks. In someimplementations, the I/O interface 110 includes a transmitter and areceiver (also referred to collectively herein as a “transceiver” orsimply as “transmitting and receiving circuitry”) that can transmit theactivity data or other information through a wired or wirelessconnection to one or more external computing devices or to one or moreback-end servers (either directly via one or more networks or indirectlyvia an external computing device that first receives the activity dataand subsequently communicates the data via one or more networks to theback-end servers). For example, the memory 106 also can store executableinstructions that, when executed by the processing unit 104, cause theprocessing unit 104 to transmit and receive information via the I/Ointerface 110. In some implementations, the one or more computernetworks include one or more local-area networks (LANs), privatenetworks, social networks, or wide-area networks (WANs) including theInternet. The I/O interface 110 can include wireless communicationfunctionality so that when the portable monitoring device 100 comeswithin range of a wireless base station or access point, or within rangeof certain equipped external computing devices (for example, a personalcomputer, smartphone or multimedia device), certain activity data orother data is automatically synced or uploaded to the external computingdevice or back-end server for further analysis, processing, viewing, orstoring. In various implementations, the wireless communicationfunctionality of I/O interface 110 may be provided or enabled via one ormore communications technologies known in the art such as, for example,Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RFID, Near-Field Communications (NFC), Zigbee, Ant,optical data transmission, among others. Additionally or alternatively,the I/O interface 110 also can include wired-communication capability,such as, for example, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface.

In some implementations, one or more back-end servers or computingsystems can support a web-based application (“web application”), website, web page or web portal (hereinafter “web application,” “web page,”“web site,” and “web portal” may be used interchangeably) enabling auser to remotely interact with the portable monitoring device 100, or tointeract with or view the activity data or activity metrics calculatedbased on the activity data, via any computing device (for example, apersonal computer, smartphone or multimedia device) capable ofsupporting a web browser or other web client suitable for use inrendering the web page or web-based application. For example, in someimplementations, the data can be stored at an Internet-viewable orInternet-accessible source such as a web site (for example,www.Fitbit.com) permitting the activity data, or data or activitymetrics derived or calculated therefrom, to be viewed, for example,using a web browser or network-based application. Hereinafter, referenceto a web application, web page, web site or web portal may refer to anystructured document or user interface made available for viewing on aclient device (for example, a personal computer, smartphone ormultimedia device) over any of one or more of the described networks orother suitable networks or communication links.

For example, while the user is wearing a portable monitoring device 100,the processing unit 104 may calculate the user's step count based onactivity data received from one or more sensors 102. The processing unit104 may temporarily store the activity data and calculated step count inthe memory 106. The processing unit 104 may then transmit the stepcount, or raw or pre-processed activity data representative of theuser's step count, via I/O interface 110 to an account on a web service(for example, www.fitbit.com), an external computing device such as apersonal computer or a mobile phone (especially a smartphone), or to ahealth station where the data may be stored, further-processed, andvisualized by the user or friends of the user.

Other implementations relating to the use of short range wirelesscommunication are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/785,904, titled “Near Field Communication System, and Method ofOperating Same” filed Mar. 5, 2013 which is hereby incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety.

In various implementations, the activity metrics that can be tracked,determined, calculate or analyzed by the processing unit 104, or by anexternal computing device or back-end server based on activity datatransmitted from portable monitoring device 100, include one or more of,for example: energy expenditure (for example, calories burned), distancetraveled, steps taken, stairs or floors climbed or descended, elevationgained or lost (e.g., based on an altimeter or global positioningsatellite (GPS) device), pace, maximum speed, location, direction,heading, ambulatory speed, rotation or distance traveled, swimmingstroke count, swimming lap count, swimming distance, bicycle distance,bicycle speed, heart rate, heart rate variability, heart rate recovery,blood pressure, blood glucose, blood oxygen level, skin conduction, skinor body temperature, electromyography data, electroencephalography data,weight, body fat, caloric intake, nutritional intake from food,medication intake, sleep periods, sleep phases, sleep quality, sleepduration, pH levels, hydration levels, and respiration rate. In someimplementations, the processing unit 104 also tracks, determines, orcalculates metrics related to the environment around the user such as,for example, one or more of: barometric pressure, temperature, humidity,rain/snow conditions, wind speed, other weather conditions, lightexposure (ambient light), ultraviolet (UV) light exposure, time orduration spent in darkness, pollen count, air quality, noise exposure,radiation exposure, and magnetic field. Some of the data used tocalculate one or more of the metrics just described may be provided tothe portable monitoring device from an external source. For example, theuser may input his height, weight, or stride in a user profile on afitness-tracking website and such information may then be communicatedto the portable monitoring device 100 via the I/O interface 110 and usedto evaluate, in conjunction with activity data measured by the sensors102, the distance traveled or calories burned by the user.

A general listing of potential types of sensors 102 and activity datatypes is shown below in Table 1. This listing is not exclusive, andother types of sensors other than those listed may be used. Moreover,the data that is potentially derivable from the listed sensors may alsobe derived, either in whole or in part, from other sensors. For example,an evaluation of stairs climbed may involve evaluating altimeter data todetermine altitude change, clock data to determine how quickly thealtitude changed, and accelerometer data to determine whether biometricmonitoring device is being worn by a person who is walking (as opposedto standing still).

TABLE 1 Sensor Type Activity Data Potentially-Derivable Activity DataAccelerometers Accelerations experienced at Rotation, translation,velocity/speed, location worn distance traveled, steps taken, elevationgained, fall indications, calories burned (in combination with data suchas user weight, stride, etc.) Gyroscopes Angular orientation and/orrotation Rotation, orientation Altimeters Barometric pressure Altitudechange, flights of stairs climbed, local pressure changes, submersion inliquid Pulse Oximeters Blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), Heart ratevariability, stress levels, heart rate, blood volume active heart rate,resting heart rate, sleeping heart rate, sedentary heart rate, cardiacarrhythmia, cardiac arrest, pulse transit time, heart rate recoverytime, blood volume Galvanic Skin Electrical conductance of skinPerspiration, stress levels, Response Sensors exertion/arousal levelsGlobal Positioning Location, elevation Distance traveled, velocity/speedSystem (GPS) Electromyographic Electrical pulses Muscletension/extension Sensors Audio Sensors Local environmental sound levelsLaugh detection, breathing detection, snoring detection, respirationtype (snoring, breathing, labored breathing, gasping), voice detection,typing detection Photo/Light Ambient light intensity, ambient Day/night,sleep, UV exposure, TV Sensors light wavelength watching, indoor v.outdoor environment Temperature Temperature Body temperature, ambientSensors environment temperature Strain Gauge Weight (the strain gaugesmay be Body Mass Index (BMI) (in Sensors located in a device remote fromconjunction with user-supplied height the biometric monitoring device,and gender information, for example) e.g., a Fitbit Aria ™ scale, andcommunicate weight-related data to the biometric monitoring device,either directly or via a shared account over the Internet) BioelectricalBody fat percentage (may be Impedance Sensors included in remote device,such as Aria ™ scale) Respiration Rate Respiration rate Sleep apneadetection Sensors Blood Pressure Systolic blood pressure, diastolicSensors blood pressure Heart Rate Sensors Heart rate Blood Glucose Bloodglucose levels Sensors Moisture Sensors Moisture levels Whether user isswimming, showering, bathing, etc.

In addition to the above, some biometric data may be calculated orestimated by the portable monitoring device 100 without direct referenceto data obtained from the sensors 102. For example, a person's basalmetabolic rate, which is a measure of the “default” caloric expenditurethat a person experiences throughout the day while at rest (in otherwords, simply to provide energy for basic bodily functions such asbreathing, circulating blood, etc.), may be calculated based on dataentered by the user via the user interface 108, or via an application orprogram (including a web application, mobile application, or client-sidesoftware program) executing on an external computing device (forexample, a personal computer, smartphone or multimedia device)communicatively coupled with the portable monitoring device 100 via theI/O interface 110 and one or more wired or wireless connections ornetworks. Such user-entered data may be used, in conjunction with datafrom an internal clock indicating the time of day, to determine how manycalories have been expended by a person thus far in the day to provideenergy for basic bodily functions.

As described above, in some example implementations, the portablemonitoring device 100, and particularly processing unit 104, includes adefault activity-tracking mode also referred to herein as an“annotation” mode. In some such implementations, the activity datamonitored while in the default annotation mode can be annotated orotherwise marked to indicate, specify, or delineate the starting andending time points or other time points of and within an activitysession. Again, for purposes of this disclosure, an “activity session”may generally refer to a user-defined duration of time, or a duration oftime associated with a particular activity or time of day, in which thedevice is monitoring activity data. In some implementations, theactivity data monitored while in the annotation mode also can beannotated or otherwise marked to indicate, specify, or define a specificactivity that is being performed by the user during the activity sessionsuch as, for example, walking, running, stair climbing, bicycling,swimming, or even sleeping. In various implementations, the user canannotate the activity data prior to, during, or after completion of anassociated activity.

In some implementations, a user can annotate an activity session viaphysical interactions with the portable monitoring device 100, itself.For example, the user can annotate the activity data using, for example,any of the components described above that may be included within userinterface 108. Additionally or alternatively, the user can annotate theactivity session via an external or remote computer (for example, apersonal computer, a smartphone, or a multimedia device). In some suchimplementations, one or both of the portable monitoring device 100 and acoupled external computing device also can communicate with one or moreback-end servers as described above. In some such implementations, theportable monitoring device or external computing device can transmit theannotations (also referred to herein as “annotation data”), the activitydata, as well as information about the portable monitoring device or theuser, to the servers for storage and, in some implementations, foradditional processing or analysis.

In some such implementations, the portable monitoring device 100, andparticular the processing unit 104, is configured to use the sensors 102to monitor the same type of activity data in the same way regardless ofthe activity being performed or in which the user in currently engaged.That is, in some implementations, regardless of what activity the useris engaging in, be it walking, running, stair climbing, bicycling,swimming, or even sleeping, the same sensors are used to sense movementsor other sensed activity data in the same way. In some implementationsin which the processing unit 104 is configured to determine, calculateor analyze one or more activity metrics, the processing unit, itself,can determine which activity metrics to determine, calculate or analyzebased on the annotation data received for the activity session.

In some implementations, the portable monitoring device 100 canautomatically annotate one or more activity sessions. In some suchimplementations, the processing unit 104 can analyze the activity datafrom the sensors 102 dynamically (for example, substantially in realtime) and automatically determine a starting point, an ending point, orother time points for which to record timestamps or store markers ordigital flags in the memory 106 to annotate the activity data monitoredin an activity session. In some other implementations, the processingunit can analyze activity data retrieved from the memory 106 toautomatically annotate the stored activity data. In still otherimplementations, the processing unit 104 can transmit the activity datavia I/O interface 110 to one or both of an external computing device(for example, a personal computer, a smartphone or a multimedia device)or a back-end server (either directly over one or more wired or wirelessnetworks or indirectly by way of an external computing device, such as apersonal computer, a smartphone or a multimedia device, in conjunctionwith one or more wired or wireless networks) that then automaticallyannotates the received activity data. In some of the aforementionedimplementations, the annotation data can be stored with thecorresponding activity data; that is, together with the activity data inthe same locations within the memory 106. In some other implementations,the annotation data can be stored separately from the activity datawithin the memory 106 but linked to the activity data by way of, forexample, one or more tables and timestamps.

In an example implementation, if the portable monitoring device 100 isplaced in an annotation mode prior to the wearer going to sleep and thentaken out of the annotation mode after the wearer wakes up, e.g., viauser interactions or based on sensed biometric or other activity data,the portable monitoring device 100 may record biometric data thatindicates that the wearer was largely stationary and horizontal duringthe time that the biometric monitoring device was in the annotationmode. This, in combination with the time of day that the annotatedbiometric data was collected, may cause the portable monitoring deviceto automatically annotate such data as a “sleeping” activity. A wearerof the biometric monitoring device may, alternatively, indicate that theannotated biometric data is associated with a particular activity, e.g.,by entering a label or other identifier of the activity in associationwith the annotated data after the biometric data is exported from theportable monitoring device to a one more back-end servers via a website,web application, mobile application, or other application or byinputting such a label or other identifier into an external computingdevice (for example, a smartphone, multimedia device, or personalcomputer) that is paired with the portable monitoring device and withincommunication range of the portable monitoring device, and particularlythe I/O interface 110.

In some other example implementations, the portable monitoring device100 may automatically detect or determine when the user is attempting togo to sleep, entering sleep, is asleep, or is awoken from a period ofsleep. In some such implementations, the portable monitoring device 100may employ physiological, motion or other sensors to acquire activitydata. In some such implementations, the processing unit 104 thencorrelates a combination of one or more of: motion, heart rate, heartrate variability, respiration rate, galvanic skin response, or skin orbody temperature sensing to detect or determine if the user isattempting to go to sleep, entering sleep, is asleep or is awoken from aperiod of sleep. In response, the portable monitoring device 100 may,for example, acquire physiological data (such as of the type and in themanner as described herein) or determine physiological conditions of theuser (such as of the type and in the manner as described herein). Forexample, a decrease or cessation of user motion combined with areduction in user heart rate and/or a change in heart rate variabilitymay indicate that the user has fallen asleep. Subsequent changes inheart rate variability and galvanic skin response may be used todetermine transitions of the user's sleep state between two or morestages of sleep (for example, into lighter and/or deeper stages ofsleep). Motion by the user and/or an elevated heart rate and/or a changein heart rate variability may be used to determine that the user hasawoken.

Real-time, windowed, or batch processing to maybe used to determine thetransitions between wake, sleep, and sleep stages, as well as in otheractivity stages. For instance, a decrease in heart rate may be measuredin a time window where the heart rate is elevated at the start of thewindow and reduced in the middle (and/or end) of the window. The awakeand sleep stages may be classified by a hidden Markov model usingchanges in motion signal (e.g., decreasing intensity), heart rate, heartrate variability, skin temperature, galvanic skin response, and/orambient light levels. The transition points may be determined through achangepoint algorithm (e.g., Bayesian changepoint analysis). Thetransition between awake and sleep may be determined by observingperiods where the user's heart rate decreases over a predetermined timeduration by at least a certain threshold but within a predeterminedmargin of the user's resting heart rate (that is observed as, forinstance, the minimum heart rate of the user while sleeping). Similarly,the transition between sleep and awake may be determined by observing anincrease in the user's heart rate above a predetermined threshold of theuser's resting heart rate.

In some implementations, a back-end server determines which activitymetrics to calculate or analyze based on annotation data generated bythe server or another server and stored in one or both of the servers,annotation data received from an external computing device, orannotation data also received from the portable monitoring device 100.Additionally, the servers also can determine which activity metrics tocalculate or analyze based on an analysis of the tracked activity data.In some such implementations, the portable monitoring device 100 may nottrack, determine, calculate or analyze any activity metrics at all;rather, the portable monitoring device may monitor the sensed activitydata and subsequently store or transmit the activity data for lateranalysis and processing by an external computing device or back-endservers.

As described above, one or output mechanisms—visual, auditory, ormotion/vibration—may be used alone or in any combination with each otheror another method of communication to communicate any one of or aplurality of the following information notifications: that a user needsto wake up at certain time (e.g., an alarm); that a user should wake upas they are in a certain sleep phase (e.g., a smart alarm); that a usershould go to sleep as it is a certain time; that a user should wake upas they are in a certain sleep phase or stage and in a preselected orpreviously-user-defined time window bounded by the earliest and latesttime that the user wants to wake up; that an email, text or othercommunication was received; that the user has been inactive for acertain period of time (such a notification function may integrate withother applications like, for instance, a meeting calendar or sleeptracking application to block out, reduce, or adjust the behavior of theinactivity alert); that the user has been active for a certain period oftime; that the user has an appointment or calendar event (e.g., areminder); or that the user has reached a certain activity metric orcombination of activity metrics. Also as described above, one or outputmechanisms—visual, auditory, or motion/vibration—may be used alone or inany combination with each other or another method of communication tocommunicate that the user has met or achieved or made progress towardsone or more of the following goals: the traversal of a certain distance;the achievement of certain mile (or other lap) pace; the achievement ofa certain speed; the achievement of a certain elevation gain; theachievement of a certain number of steps; the achievement of a certainmaximum or average heart rate; the completion of a certain number ofswimming strokes or laps in a pool.

These examples are provided for illustration and are not intended tolimit the scope of information that may be communicated by the device(for example, to the user). As described above, the data used todetermine whether or not a goal is achieved or whether the condition foran alert has been met may be acquired from the portable monitoringdevice 100 or another device. The portable monitoring device 100 itselfmay determine whether the criteria for an alert, goal, or notificationhas been met. Alternatively, a computing device in communication withthe device (e.g. a server and/or a mobile phone) may determine when thealert should occur. In view of this disclosure, other information thatthe device may communicate to the user can be envisioned by one ofordinary skill in the art. For example, the device may communicate withthe user when a goal has been met. The criteria for meeting this goalmay be based on physiological, contextual, and environmental sensors ona first device, and/or other sensor data from one or more secondarydevices. The goal may be set by the user or may be set by the deviceitself and/or another computing device in communication with the device(e.g. a server).

In one example implementation, upon detecting or determining that theuser has reached a biometric or activity goal, the portable monitoringdevice 100 may vibrate to notify the user. For example, the portablemonitoring device 100 may detect (or be informed) that the wearer hasexceeded a predefined goal or achievement threshold, for example, 10,000steps taken in one day, and may, responsive to such an event, vibrate toalert or congratulate the user. In some such implementations, if theuser then presses a button, the display may turn on and present dataabout the goal that the user reached, for example, what goal wasreached, if the goal was previously reached one or more times on adifferent day, week, month, or year, or how long it took to reach thegoal). In another example, the color and/or intensity of one or moreLEDs may serve as notifications that the user is winning or losingagainst a friend in a competition in, for example, step count. In yetanother example, the biometric monitoring device may be a wrist-mounteddevice that may vibrate or emit audio feedback to notify the user of anincoming email, text message, or other alert. In some suchimplementations, if the user then moves his or her wrist in a gesturesimilar to checking a watch, the display of the biometric monitoringdevice may be turned on and a data display page relating data relevantto the alert may be presented to the user. In yet another example, thebiometric monitoring device may present increasingly noticeable feedbackmethods based on the importance or urgency of the alert. For example, ahigh priority alert may include audio, vibration, and/or visualfeedback, whereas a low priority alert may only include visual feedback.The criteria to distinguish a high priority alert from lower-priorityalerts may be defined by the user. For example, a high-priority alertmay be triggered if an email message or text is sent with a particularpriority, e.g., “urgent,” if an email message or text is sent from aparticular person, e.g., a person that the user has identified as beinghigh-priority, if a meeting notification or reminder is received oroccurs, if a certain goal is achieved or if a dangerous healthcondition, such as a high heart rate is detected.

As described above, in some other implementations, the portablemonitoring device 100 may operate within or according to a plurality ofmodes. For example, various modes may include: a general or defaultactivity-tracking mode such as the annotation mode described above, atimer mode, a stopwatch mode, a clock/time/watch mode, asleep-monitoring (or “sleep-tracking”) mode, a work mode, a home mode, acommute mode, as well as one or more activity-specific activity-trackingmodes for tracking user activities such as biking, swimming, walking,running, stair-climbing, rock climbing, weight-lifting, treadmillexercise, and elliptical machine exercise. In some multi-modeimplementations, the portable monitoring device 100 also enables a userto annotate activity data monitored in one or more modes including oneor more activity-specific activity-tracking modes as described above.

The processing unit 104 may automatically determine or select a mode forthe device to operate in based on a plurality of signals, data or otherinformation. For example, the processing unit may automatically select amode based on one or more activity metrics (for example, a step count,stair or floor count, or a number of calories burned) or, additionallyor alternatively, based on one or more of: contextual or environmentaldata (for example, time of day, GPS or other determined or enteredlocation or position data, ambient light brightness, temperature, orhumidity); physiological or other person-centric data (for example,heart rate, body temperature, hydration level, or blood oxygen level);or system condition data (for example, in response to a low battery orlow memory); or based on one or more user-defined conditions being met.

In some implementations, the portable monitoring device itself candetermine which activity data to monitor, or, additionally oralternatively, which activity (or sleep) metrics (hereinafter “sleepmetrics” also may generally be referred to as “activity metrics”) todetermine, calculate or analyze, based on which of the activity-trackingor other modes is currently active or initiated. Additionally oralternatively, in some implementations, one or both of an externalcomputing device or a back-end server can request certain activity datafrom the portable monitoring device based on which of theactivity-tracking modes is currently active or initiated. Additionallyor alternatively, in some implementations, one or both of an externalcomputing device or a back-end server can receive all activity datamonitored by the portable monitoring device and subsequently filter orotherwise selectively process certain activity data to determine,calculate or analyze certain activity metrics based on which of theactivity-tracking modes is currently active or initiated.

In some multi-mode implementations, a user can select which of the modesis currently active or initiated via the user interface 108, or via anapplication or program (including a web application, mobile application,or client-side software program) executing on an external computingdevice (for example, a personal computer, smartphone or multimediadevice) communicatively coupled with the portable monitoring device 100via the I/O interface 110 and one or more wired or wireless connectionsor networks. For example, a user may select the mode of the portablemonitoring device 100 using an application on a smartphone that sendsthe mode selection to a server. The server, in turn, sends the modeselection to an external computing device that then sends the modeselection to the portable monitoring device 100 via the I/O interface110. Alternatively, the smart phone application (or the server) may sendthe mode selection directly to the portable monitoring device 100.

In some implementations, a user also can select which activity metricsto track while in each of the corresponding activity-tracking modes. Asdescribed above, in some implementations, the portable monitoring device100 also can be configured to automatically switch among two or moreactivity-tracking or other modes. In some such implementations, theprocessing unit 104 can analyze the activity data from the sensors 102and automatically determine a most suitable, appropriate, or optimalactivity-tracking or other mode to switch into based on the analysis ofthe activity data dynamically in substantially real-time. In some othersuch implementations, the processing unit 104 can transmit the activitydata via I/O interface 110 through a wired or wireless connection to oneor both of an external computing device or back-end server that thenanalyzes the activity data, determines the most suitable, appropriate,or optimal activity-tracking or other mode to switch into, andsubsequently transmits one or more instructions to the portablemonitoring device 100 that, when executed by the processing unit 104,cause the processing unit 104 (in conjunction with one or more othercomponents described above) to switch into the determined mode.

In some implementations, the portable monitoring device 100 includes analarm clock function intended to wake the wearer or user from sleep orotherwise alert the user. In some such implementations, the portablemonitoring device 100 acts as a wrist-mounted vibrating alarm tosilently wake the user from sleep. The portable monitoring device alsocan be configured to track the user's sleep quality, waking periods,sleep latency, sleep efficiency, sleep stages (e.g., deep sleep vs REM),or other sleep-related metrics through one or a combination of heartrate, heart rate variability, galvanic skin response, motion sensing(e.g., accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer), and skin temperature. Insome implementations, the user may specify a desired alarm time orwindow of time (e.g. set alarm to go off between 7 and 8 am). In somesuch implementations, the processing unit 104 uses one or more of thesleep metrics to determine an optimal time within the alarm window towake the user. In some implementations, when the vibrating alarm isactive, the user may cause it to hibernate, snooze, or turn off byslapping or tapping the device (which is detected, for example, viamotion sensor(s), a pressure/force sensor and/or capacitive touch sensorin the device). In one specific implementation, the portable monitoringdevice 100 can be configured to attempt to arouse the user at an optimumpoint in the sleep cycle by starting a small vibration at a specificuser sleep stage or time prior to the alarm setting. It mayprogressively increase the intensity or noticeability of the vibrationas the user progresses toward wakefulness or toward the alarm setting.Similar to the way a conventional alarm clock functions, the wearer oruser may have the ability to set one or more daily, periodic, or otherrecurring alarms. Additionally, the alarm function can be configured to“snooze,” i.e., temporarily stop the alarm for a short period of time,typically minutes, and then have the alarm re-trigger.

As a result of the small size of many portable monitoring devices, manysuch monitoring devices have limited space to accommodate various userinterface components. For example, Fitbit manufactures a variety ofextremely compact portable monitoring devices, including biometrictracking units, that each incorporate a suite of sensors, a battery, adisplay, a power-charging interface, and one or more wirelesscommunications interfaces. In some such examples, the portablemonitoring devices also incorporate a vibramotor and/or a button. Thesecomponents may be housed, for example, within housings measuringapproximately 2″ long, 0.75″ wide, and 0.5″ thick (Fitbit Ultra™);approximately 1.9″ in length, 0.75″ wide, and 0.375″ thick (FitbitOne™); approximately 1.4″ long, 1.1″ wide, and 0.375″ thick (FitbitZip™); and approximately 1.3″ in length, 0.5″ wide, and 0.25″ thick(Fitbit Flex™). Of course, housings of other sizes may be used in otherimplementations of biometric monitoring devices; the above list ismerely intended to illustrate the small size of many such biometricmonitoring devices.

Despite the small sizes of the above-listed Fitbit devices, eachincludes a display of some type—the Fitbit Ultra, Fitbit One, and FitbitZip, for example, all include small pixelated display screens capable ofoutputting text, numbers, and graphics. The Fitbit Flex, due to itssmaller size, uses discrete light-emitting diode (LED) indicators, e.g.,5 LEDs arranged in a row, to convey information visually. Each of theabove-listed Fitbit devices also have an input mechanism that allows auser to affect some aspect of the device's operation. For example, theFitbit Ultra and Fitbit One each include a discrete pushbutton thatallows a user to affect how the device operates. The Fitbit Zip andFitbit Flex, by contrast, do not have a discrete pushbutton but areinstead each configured to detect, using their biometric sensors, whenthe user taps the housing of the device; such events are construed bythe processor or processors of such devices as signaling a user input,i.e., acting as the input mechanism.

One component of the portable monitoring device 100 that may be limitedin size or performance is the power source 114, for example, arechargeable, removable, or replaceable battery, capacitor, etc. In someimplementations, the portable monitoring device 100 can be configured toremain in an “always on” state to allow it to continually collectactivity data throughout the day and night. Given that the sensors 102and processing unit 104 of the portable monitoring device must generallyremain powered to some degree in order to collect the activity data, itcan be advantageous to implement power-saving features elsewhere in thedevice, such as by, for example, causing a display to automatically turnoff after a period of time. The Fitbit Ultra™ is an example of aportable monitoring device that includes a data display that istypically turned off to save power unless the device is being interactedwith by the user. A typical user interaction may be provided by, forexample, pressing a button on the device.

In some implementations, a housing of the portable monitoring device 100itself is designed or configured such that it may be inserted into, andremoved from, a plurality of compatible cases, housings, or holders(hereinafter “cases,” “housings,” and “holders” may be usedinterchangeably). For example, in some implementations, the portablemonitoring device 100 is configured for removable insertion into awristband or armband that can be worn on a person's wrist, forearm orupper arm. In some implementations, the portable monitoring device isadditionally or alternatively configured for removable insertion into abelt-clip case or configured for coupling with a clip that can beattached to a person's belt or clothing. As used herein, the term“wristband” may refer to a band that is designed to fully or partiallyencircle a person's forearm near the wrist joint. The band can becontinuous, for example, without any “breaks’; that is, it may stretchto fit over a person's hand or have an expanding portion similar to adress watchband. Alternatively, the band can be discontinuous, forexample, having a clasp or other connection enabling a user to close theband similar to a watchband. In still other implementations, the bandcan simply be simply “open,” for example, having a C-shape that claspsthe wearer's wrist. Hereinafter, a portable monitoring device that isinserted, combined, or otherwise coupled with a separate removable caseor some other structure enabling it to be worn or easily carried by orattached to a person or his clothing may be referred to as a “portablemonitoring system.”

As mentioned above, various implementations of portable monitoringdevices described herein may have shapes and sizes adapted for couplingto the body or clothing of a user (e.g., secured to, worn, borne by,etc.). Various examples of such portable monitoring devices are shown inFIGS. 2, 3, and 4. FIG. 2 depicts a monitoring device similar in shapeto a Fitbit One, which may be inserted into a holder with a belt clip orinto a pocket on a wristband. Portable monitoring device 200 has ahousing 202 that contains the electronics associated with the biometricmonitoring device 200. A button 204 and a display 206 may beaccessible/visible through the housing 202. FIG. 3 depicts a portablemonitoring device that may be worn on a person's forearm like awristwatch, much like a Fitbit Flex. Portable monitoring device 300 hasa housing 302 that contains the electronics associated with thebiometric monitoring device 300. A button 304 and a display 306 may beaccessible/visible through the housing 302. A wristband 308 may beintegrated with the housing 302. FIG. 4 depicts another example of aportable monitoring device that may be worn on a person's forearm like awristwatch, although with a bigger display than the portable monitoringdevice of FIG. 3. Portable monitoring device 400 has a housing 402 thatcontains the electronics associated with the portable monitoring device400. A button 404 and a display 406 may be accessible/visible throughthe housing 402. A wristband 408 may be integrated with the housing 402.

Further embodiments and implementations of portable monitoring devicescan be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/156,304, titled“Portable Biometric Monitoring Devices and Methods of Operating Same”filed Jun. 8, 2011 which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

Unless the context (where the term “context” is used per its typical,general definition) of this disclosure clearly requires otherwise,throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,”“comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense asopposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in a senseof “including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or pluralnumber also generally include the plural or singular numberrespectively. Additionally, the words “herein,” “hereunder,” “above,”“below,” and words of similar import refer to this application as awhole and not to any particular portions of this application. When theword “or” is used in reference to a list of two or more items, that wordcovers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of theitems in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination ofthe items in the list. The term “implementation” refers toimplementations of techniques and methods described herein, as well asto physical objects that embody the structures and/or incorporate thetechniques and/or methods described herein.

There are many concepts and implementations described and illustratedherein. While certain features, attributes and advantages of theimplementations discussed herein have been described and illustrated,many others, as well as different and/or similar implementations,features, attributes and advantages, are apparent from the descriptionand illustrations. As such, the above implementations are merelyexemplary and are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit thedisclosure to the precise forms, techniques, materials and/orconfigurations disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possiblein light of this disclosure. Other implementations may be utilized andoperational changes may be made without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure. As such, the scope of the disclosure is not limitedsolely to the description above because the description of the aboveimplementations has been presented for the purposes of illustration anddescription.

Importantly, the present disclosure is neither limited to any singleaspect nor implementation, nor to any single combination and/orpermutation of such aspects and/or implementations. Moreover, each ofthe aspects of the present disclosure, and/or implementations thereof,may be employed alone or in combination with one or more of the otheraspects and/or implementations thereof. For the sake of brevity, many ofthose permutations and combinations will not be discussed and/orillustrated separately herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device comprising: at least one sensor toprovide activity data, the activity data pertaining to a physicalactivity undertaken by a user of the device to whom the device isphysically coupled; at least one processor, wherein the at least oneprocessor is configured to: receive the activity data; and receive orgenerate annotation data to annotate the activity data with one or moremarkers or indicators to define one or more characteristics of aphysical activity session, the physical activity session beingassociated with a duration of time of the physical activity undertakenby the user and a type of activity performed; at least one feedbackdevice to provide an indication to the user based on the receivedactivity data; and a portable housing that encloses at least portions ofthe at least one sensor, the at least one feedback device, and the atleast one processor.
 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising: amemory, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:store the activity data or data derived from the activity data in thememory.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the at least one processor isfurther configured to: store the annotation data in the memory.
 4. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is furtherconfigured to: determine one or more activity metrics based on theactivity data.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least oneprocessor is further configured to: determine one or more activitymetrics based on the activity data and the annotation data.
 6. Thedevice of claim 1, further comprising: at least one user input deviceincluded in or integrated with the portable housing for receiving orsensing user input, wherein the at least one processor is furtherconfigured to: receive and interpret the user input received or sensedvia the at least one user input device.
 7. The device of claim 6,wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: decrease asensitivity of or deactivate the at least one user input device when thetype of activity performed during the physical activity session includessleeping or swimming.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least onesensor includes at least one motion sensor for sensing motion of thedevice.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensorincludes at least one physiological sensor for determining one or morephysiological conditions of the user.
 10. The device of claim 9, whereinthe activity data comprises activity data provided by the at least onephysiological sensor; and wherein the at least one processor is furtherconfigured to: switch among a plurality of activity-tracking modes basedat least in part on the one or more markers or indicators, wherein theplurality of activity-tracking modes includes at least one of a runningmode, a walking mode, a stair-climbing mode, a bicycling mode, aswimming mode, or a sleep-tracking mode based at least in part on theactivity data provided by the at least one physiological sensor.
 11. Thedevice of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting and receivingcircuitry, wherein the receiving circuitry is configured to receive userinput provided via an external or remote device that communicates theuser input to the receiving circuitry.
 12. The device of claim 11,wherein the transmitting and receiving circuitry is configured forwireless communication over a network, and wherein the received userinput via the external or remote device is provided via a web or mobileapplication.
 13. The device of claim 1, wherein the annotation data isreceived or generated from a user-defined input, wherein theuser-defined input is based on a physical interaction with the device orwith an external device that is communicatively-coupled with the devicevia one or more wired or wireless connections or networks.
 14. Thedevice of claim 13, wherein the duration of time of the physicalactivity and the type of activity performed are indicated or defined bythe user-defined input.
 15. The device of claim 1, wherein the device isconfigured to automatically annotate the activity data or to generatethe annotation data.
 16. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least oneprocessor is further configured to: automatically determine the activitydata to track or one or more activity metrics to calculate based on theannotation data.
 17. A method implemented by a portable monitoringdevice, comprising: sensing, by at least one sensor, to provide activitydata pertaining to a physical activity undertaken by a user of thedevice to whom the device is physically coupled; receiving, by at leastone processor, the activity data; receiving or generating, by the atleast one processor, annotation data to annotate the activity data withone or more markers or indicators to define one or more characteristicsof a physical activity session, the physical activity session beingassociated with a duration of time of the physical activity undertakenby the user and a type of activity performed; and annotating theactivity data based on the annotation data.
 18. The method of claim 17,further comprising: determining one or more activity metrics based onthe activity data and the annotation data.
 19. The method of claim 17,further comprising: receiving and interpreting, by at least one userinput device, a user input, wherein a sensitivity of the user inputdevice is based at least in part on the type of activity performedduring the physical activity session.
 20. The method of claim 17,wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one physiologicalsensor for determining one or more physiological conditions of the user.